Exhibition
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Signature Sempé

US Premiere

On view January 27–March 27, 2023
FIAF Gallery



FIAF is thrilled to present, in partnership with the Société de Lecture in Geneva, Switzerland, Signature Sempé, a selection of Jean-Jacques Sempé’s most iconic works in the FIAF Gallery from January 27–March 27, 2023.

The exhibition will feature Sempé’s original drawings from his inaugural trip to New York, offering a unique glimpse into his first impressions of a city he would grow to admire. A large selection of Sempé’s original New Yorker covers will be included in the exhibition. In conjunction with FIAF’s 2023 Animation First Festival, the exhibition will include quintessential illustrations from Le Petit Nicolas, the beloved French children’s book series Sempé created with René Goscinny.

Signature Sempé will be on view in the FIAF Gallery through Monday, March 27, 2023 and will extend onto NYC streets through an outdoor exhibition from January 23–April 9, 2023. See details below.

Outdoor Exhibition

Signature Sempé Around NYC

January 23–April 9, 2023
Panels around NYC

Signature Sempé will extend onto NYC streets! The beloved cartoonist’s depictions of the city and its people will be showcased on panels as part of a free outdoor exhibition with JCDecaux.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Jean-Jacques Sempé

Jean-Jacques Sempé was born in 1932 at Pessac near Bordeaux, in south-west France. After publishing his first cartoon in 1951, he slowly grew in popularity, eventually becoming one of France’s most celebrated artists. Best known in France for his illustrations of the beloved children’s character, Le Petit Nicolas, the English-speaking world came to appreciate Sempé with his iconic New Yorker magazine covers.

2023 ANIMATION FIRST - SEMPÉ EVENTS

FEATURE FILM

Little Nicholas - Happy as can be

NY Premiere
Friday, January 27, 2023
7pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 7 & up

Dir. Amandine Fredon & Benjamin Massoubre, 2022
In French with English subtitles • 82 min

Little Nicholas – Happy as can be (Le Petit Nicolas – Qu’est-ce qu’on attend pour être heureux ?) is a charming rendition of artist Jean-Jacques Sempé’s and René Goscinny’s lives which co-exist within the fictitious adventures of the duo’s French children’s book character Le Petit Nicolas.

Followed by the Opening Night Party from 8:30–9:30pm and a screening of The Best of Annecy 2022 program of shorts at 9:30pm.

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PANEL DISCUSSION

Sempé and Le Petit Nicolas

Saturday, January 28, 2023
2:30pm
FIAF Skyroom
In English • 60 min • Free!

Little Nicholas – Happy as can be filmmakers Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre, gallerist Martine Gossieaux, and Françoise Mouly, the artistic director of The New Yorker examine the allure and longevity of Sempé and Le Petit Nicolas.

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